Automatic train control



Nov. 13, 1928. D. H. scHwEYER AUTOMATIC TRAIN CONTROL Filed Dec. 24, 1924 L gwuanto'u Patented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED- STATES PATENT'OFFI'CE.

DANIEL HERBERT SCHWEYER, EASTO N, PENNSYLVANIA.

. AUTOMATIC 'rnnin. common.

;.; Application filed December 24, 19.24. Serial o. 757,835

The present invention relates to automatic tram control apparatus, and aims to provide a novel and improved combination of correlated devices for obtaining, by control from the track or road-way, clear, caution, and

danger or corresponding conditions selectively in the. vehicle or train equipment, either through the control of signals in the locomotive cab or other vehicle, or through mechanism for automatically controlling the progress of the train or vehicle, or both the signalling and controlling means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be: apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the con: struction and arrangement of-parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without from the spirit of the invent-ion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure is a diagrammatical view of the apparatus.

The locomotive or vehicle equipment 'ineludes the shoes 1, 2 and 3, the shoes 1 and 3 being located at one side oi the truck and the shoe 2 at the opposite side. The shoe 2 is adapted to ride over a ramp 4 at the-corresponding side of the track and l cated at each of suitable control locations of the track, while the shoes 1 and 3 are adapted to ride over a ramp 5 at each of suitable controllocations of the track. he ramps 4 and 5 are suitably distributed along the track according to the requirements or circumstances. As

. shown, the ramp 4 is connected through the track battery 6 and switch 7 with the rail sec-- tion 8, while the ramp 5 is connected through the track battery 9 and switch 10 with the connected at their exit the track circuit battery 13. The switch 7 is controlled by an electromagnet 12 bridged across the rail sections 11 at the entrance end, and the switch 10 is controlled hyan electromagnet 14 bridged across the rail sections 15 at the entran e end thereof, whereby when the corresponding sections of unoccupied the magnets 12 and 14 are ener- 5 gized from the batteries 13 to close the switches 7 and 10, whereas whenthe correspending track sections are occupied themag nets 12 and 14 will be shunted to release the switches 7 and 10 so that said switches drop departing rail section 11. Each pair of rail sections is ends by or through,

the track are open. However,the meansfor controlling present invention, inas-.

The shoes1, 2 and 3 are carried by stems or shanks 16-slidable in suitable frames 17 carried by the vehicle orcar, and said shoes are depressed by suitable springs 18. The shoes'l, 2 and 3 control the corresponding contactsor switches 19. 20 and 21which are normally closed when the shoes are depressed. and which are open when the shoes ride over the ramps.

The veh cle equipment includes the clearr I caution and dangerele tric lamps 22, 23 and 24, respectively. or other equivalentsignal or translating devices. All three lamps are lighted under clear conditions. the lamp 22 isextin uished and the lamps 23 and 24 lighted under caution conditions: and the lamp 24 only is lighted under danger conditions. whereby the extinguishing of one or more lampswill indicate abnormal conditions.

The normal circuit of the lampY22 comprises a vehicle carried battery; 25 or other source of electrical energy, conductor 26, contacts 19, conductor 27, contacts 20, conductor 28, electromagnet 29, conductor 30, electro magnet 31 of a stick relay, switch 32 of said relay, contact 33. lamp22, conductor 34. solenoid 60, and conductor 35. If such circuit is broken at either of the contacts 19 and 20,

the magnet 31 being deenergized will release the switch 32, thereby causing the lamp 22 to remain extinguished until the magnet 31 is reenergized through another circuit as will hereinafter more fully appear. Another circuit including the lamp 22 Includes the battery 25, conductor 26, switch 36 of a stick" relay. contact 37, conductor 56. switch 32, contact 33, lamp 22, conductor 34, solenoid 60, and conductor 35. However, this circuit does not interfere, and is broken at the contact 33 when the relay magnet 31 is deenergized. and

the circuit is also broken at the contact 37 when the relay magnet 38 is deenergized.

The caution lamp 23 is included in the normally closed circuit comprising the battery 25, conductor 26,- switch 36, contact 37,1

, 41 to engage contacts opens, so as to energize, under caution 'conditions, an electromagnet said magnet, under cautionconditions, "111- :co'ntacts 42" electromagnet 38 controlling said switch 36 as a stick relay, conductor 39, lamp 23, conductorfitO, contacts. 21 and conductor35. 111? the circuit is broken at the contacts 21, the magnet 38 being deenergized will let'the switch 36 dropropen, and the circuit remains open, with the lamp 23 extinguished, until the magnet 38 is reenergized through. another circuit as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The switch 32 carries ani'nsulated switch 42 when the switch 32 'cludingthe battery25, conductor26, apair of contacts 45 and switch 46,'conductor 14E,-

ll with the switch32 and switch down, conductor 43, magnet 42 and conductor is carried byand msaid magnet. is energized it. lifts a =magnet 29 in the clear circuit, tolitt'the switch 417 against a contact 48, the magnet 29 being ldeenergized when 'the clear circuit 1s broken as aforesaid. The switch'e'i-engaging the contact 48 will close solenoid 49whichcomplements the solenoid 60, lthe-circuit including 'thebattery 25, con "du'ctor26, solenoid-'49, switch 47,-con'tact' 18 iandconductor 3.5.

- other mechanism ,Thesolenoids-ew and, 60 form part of a con trol dieviice,50*which, through pneumaticor (notshown) controls the movement ot the-trai'n or vehicle, said mechanrsmforinmgno partof the present invention ilCores 5]; and 52 we movable in the 'soleno1ds'60 and 49,- respectively, and are car- 'rid by a'rod' 53 supporting a control member *5d,':which',has' three' positions. WVhenthe solenoid {60- is energized to draw the-core} 51 l thereinto, with the solenoid 49' deenergized,

"themer'nber 5 i is in intermediate or clear po-' .i'sit on; hen the-solenoid 491's energizedto draw the core 52 -tl1ere1nto the 'in'ember 544s T movedto the right or into caution position, whereasjwhen both solenoids are deencrgizcd 50" ,;posit*ion by the member 54: isinoved to tlielett or danger -means of a weight 55' on other means. TThe'mei'nber 54 can therefore con- 1: merit-of the vehicle or mechanism, the movetrain. Alternate h'olding-' circi1its for the stick redaysmagnets 31 and"38-are proyided= when passing control locations with the track cirsections 11, and switch lO but the lampf22 is -'c'uits"closed. Forfthis-purpose, a conductor 5 56' lie-connected between *swltch 32 and between the contact 37-and "-magnet "38,=and is connected to an-axle or the magnet truck 57: ofthe Vehicle soasto. be grounded to thea'ailsof the track.

"Aclearing switch 58 is'pro ided to bridge 'l 95 1amp 5-,shoe

the conductors 40 and-56 in order to clean'the more fully, appear.

42, the circuit of the circuit of a 35. The third switch 10 closed, a similar circuit is established 31 and Vehicle equipment, and a danger condition terminating switch 59 is provided to bridge the-conductors 28 and 561when;it is desired to terminate danger conditions and to establish caution conditions. Under danger condi- ;tions, both switches; 58 and59 must be closed to obtain clear conditions, as will hereinafter The lamp 24lis connected between the conductors 26 and 35 son as to be continually in circuit with the battery 25, said lamp 2e only beingextinguished b'ydailu'reot current or breaking of its circuit.

' The apparatus operates under 'thenormal closed circuit plan so that the :i'ailureioii current, breaking, shorting or grounding of circuits, and similar contingenc es will resultin Y fail'uresonthe side of safety.

The operation ot the' apparatusisasnfollows r Y Under clear runningconditionsin theblo'ck all three lamps 22, 23 and 21 are lightedas hereinbefore described. One circuit includes the battery 25, conductor 26, contacts '19,.con-

'ductor 27, contacts'20, condu'cton28, magnet 29, conductor 30, magnet 31,- switch 32, con

22, conductor34l, solenoid 60, The second circuit; xinconductor *26, switch tact 33, lamp and conductor-'35; eludes the battery 25,

.36, contact 37 magnet 38, conductor 39,.lnnp 21 and conductor 23, conductor 40, contacts circuitinclud'esIthebattery 25, conductor 26, lamp 24;, and conductor335. The solen'oidbO-being energized: will. hold the 'i'nember 51 in intermediate or clear position. /Vhen the shoe 2 rides overthe ramp l with the switch 7' closed, and the contactsF20: are

separated to open-the normal clear circuit, an

alternate holding circuit for the .magnet. 31

established. *S-uch alternateholding:cir-

ouit includes the battery6, :ramp 4, shoe2,

conductor 28, magnet 29, conductor-30, mag net 31, conductor 56, axle and Wheels 57-,-

rail sections 8 on which the vehicle is movingwith the' shoe 2 on the ramp 4., and switch 7. i Thus,

with the contacts 20:- separated the alternate holding circuit-heeps' the magnet 3L energized, providingthe'sWitch'? is closed, butthe lamp 22 ismomentarilyextinguished :when the shoe 2 rides over theramp: 4-. When the shoe 1 rides-over the ramp' 5,witlr ithe alternate holding :to keep the magnet 31 energized, such circuit: including the. battery 9, ramp- 5, shoe 1, conductor 27 oontacts 2O, conductor 28, magnet '29 ,=conductor'-=30, ma

net 31,-conductor 56, wheels and aXl'e 5'Zyrail momentarily extinguished when ztheshoe i 1 rides over the-ramp" 5.

Also-,- when the: shoe 3 rides over the ramp circuit including the. battery energized, said i 3, conductor L0',:lamp;23,.con-

said ra nps for. selectivelycontrolling said,

alternate holding circuits.

Y vicesio-r diil-erent controlling conditions, and

,meansfor; deenergizing either one or bOtll Oit' ,said. LlGVlCGS when passing control -loea ons H of the track.

, 5.'- Train control; apparatus including two .;10. normally closed electrical ,vehicle circuits having' normally energized; translating de vices therein for different controlling conditions, a parrotcircuit breakers connected in series in one of SZLlClfiliCllltS third circuit 1:15, breaker in the other circuit, and two means 31: and the third circuit breakerbein 4 on the traclrfor controlling and the other of said pair of circuit breakers arranged t'obe operated by the other, of saidmeans.

6. Train control apparatus including two normally U closed electrical vehicle circuits havingnorrnally energized translating deu' vices therein for diflerent controlling condicircuit breaker tions, a vpair of circuit breakers connected in series inone circuit, a third circuit breaker in the other circuit, two meanson the track for controllingsaid circuit breakers when passing control; locations, of the track to break said circuits, one a of said pair of circuit ,breakers being arranged to be operated by,

one of said meansand the-other 0t said pair of circuit breakers and the third circuit breaker being arranged: tobe operated by the other of saidineans, andmeansrfor se- ,l.ectiyely keeping said devices energized whenpass ng the control locations with said circuits; broken.

a 7 ;T,ra1n control apparatus including two normally closed electrical vehlcle circuits having normally energ zed translating devices therein, for difierentlcontrollingconditions, a pair of circuit breakers in one of said circuits. connected in".series therein, a third in the othercircuit, and two ramps at di-flerent transverse positions of the track j to. operate the circuit: breakers for breaking said circuits, one of saidupair of circuit breakers being arranged to-be oper- I ated by-one of saidvra nps and the other of said pairof circuit breakers and the third said circuit breakers, one of said pair of circuit breakers being arrangedto be operatedby one otsaid neans by the other ramp.

8. Train control, apparatus including two normally closed electrical vehicle circuits having normally energized translatingdevices therein for different controllingcondltrons, a pair of circult breakers 111 one of said circuits connected in series therein a third circuit breaker in the other circuit, two ramps at different transverse positions of the track to operate the circuit breakers forvbreaking said circuits, one otsaidpair of circuitbrea-kers being arranged to be operated by one of said ramps and-the other of said pair of circuit breakers and the third circuit breaker being arranged to be operated bythe other ramp, alt :nate holdingcircuits for said de vices cooperable with said ramps, and means on the track connected to said ramps for controlling said alternate holding circuits.

r 9. Train control apparatus including a pair of translating devices for different controlling conditions on the vehicle, a pair of receiving device's controlling one of said translating devices, a third receiving device pair of translating devices on the vehicle for dili'erent controlling conditions, a pair of re- 7 ceiving devices controlling one of the translating devices and located at dilierent positions transversely of the track, a third receiving-device controlling the-other translating device, and two means on at different positions transversely thereof said pair of receiving devices being arranged to be operated by one of said means and the other of said pair of receiving devices and DANIEL HERBERT SGHWEYER the track for controlling said receiving devices, one of 

